Soar Aviation Law
Legal Services for All Areas of Business Aviation Law
A team with experience
Amanda Applegate, Partner
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As a founding partner at Soar Aviation Law, LLC, Amanda Applegate brings her outstanding legal expertise as well as impressive negotiating skills and business savvy to the service of the firm’s clients. Ms. Applegate has been in private practice since 2011. She specializes in whole aircraft transactions and has successfully closed hundreds of sales and purchases for all types of business aircraft around the world. Additionally, she has unique and comprehensive understanding of fractional ownership due to her previous experience in that industry.
Prior to going into private practice, she served as Associate General Counsel and Vice President of NetJets Services, Inc., where she spent twelve very productive years with the company that pioneered fractional jet ownership. As the company’s Associate General Counsel, Ms. Applegate directed a diverse range of business, including multimillion-dollar contract negotiations, contract enforcement, fractional ownership and leasing, and daily business matters. She also worked with NetJet’s sister company, Executive Jet Management, and gained insight and experience into the field of whole aircraft ownership, management and operations.
During her first few years of private practice, Ms. Applegate represented 25 Avantair fractional owner groups, comprised of nearly 300 fractional owners, following the grounding of the Avantair fleet and subsequent bankruptcy proceedings. She managed the disposition and assessment of all planes and parts and devised sales opportunities for aircraft and associated equipment, including “as-is” live auctions and recertified brokered sales. More recently Ms. Applegate represented 14 Jet It fractional owner groups, comprised of over 100 fractional owners, when Jet It ceased its operations in May of 2023. She facilitated the sale of all 14 aircraft and handled the necessary tasks including working with lienholders, coordinating inspections, hiring aircraft brokers, records retrieval and distribution of sale proceeds.
Ms. Applegate was admitted to the State Bar of Ohio after graduating from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1998.
Ms. Applegate is ranked by Chambers & Partners as one of the premier aviation attorneys worldwide. She speaks frequently on business aviation topics for organizations including the National Business Aviation Association. Since 2012 she has been a featured columnist for BusinessAir Magazine, writing monthly on key topics regarding the acquisition, ownership and operation of business aircraft.
Sarah Northcraft Spann, Partner
sarah@soaraviationlaw.com | View LinkedIn Profile
As a founding partner of Soar Aviation Law, LLC, Sarah Northcraft Spann brings an extensive background to aircraft transactions. She is known for her expertise in creating innovative solutions for her aviation and business clients.
Ms. Northcraft Spann has been practicing law for over 18 years. Her legal career has included seven years of private practice and seven years with NetJets Inc., the company that pioneered the fractional jet ownership concept. Ms. Northcraft Spann’s tenure at NetJets included five years as Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, focusing on contract negotiation and strategies, with a mandate to align corporate business goals with legal requirements. In addition, she served as counsel to Executive Jet Management, a subsidiary of NetJets, advising both the aircraft management and charter departments.
As Associate General Counsel, Ms. Northcraft Spann was also responsible for a wide array of other legal and business matters, including: the development of corporate contract templates; managing junior attorneys within the legal department; and advising on matters involving regulatory compliance, real estate, litigation, and employment matters. Prior to becoming Associate General Counsel, Ms. Northcraft Spann served as a Contract Administrator for NetJets, handling hundreds of contracts involving multimillion-dollar fractional purchases.
Ms. Northcraft Spann was admitted to the State Bar of Ohio after receiving her J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University. Ms. Northcraft Spann is also admitted to the State Bar of Illinois.
Jeanne Maynard, Senior Paralegal
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Jeanne Maynard has been a Senior Paralegal for over 20 years. Her most recent position prior to Soar Aviation Law, LLC, was as Senior Managing Paralegal for Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC. Jeanne's previous paralegal experience includes King & Spalding, Electrolux, Russell Athletic, Acuity Brands and Mueller Water Products. Jeanne is experienced in the areas of corporate formation, corporate maintenance and governance, intellectual property, corporate real estate, licensing and contract administration.
